What: 2025 Topps Chrome Marvel trading cards
Arrives: June 16
Box basics: Four serial-numbered cards per 12-pack box (12 boxes per case)
Checklist: Click here
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Marvel hits Chrome once again with all the legendary characters and with some new inclusions such as Clawed Chrome cards as seen above.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

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Like many collectors, Buzz is a fan of grading ... so here's this month's grading diary here on The Buzz.

GETTING EVEN BETTER?
The Card: Victor Wembanyama 2023-24 Panini Haunted Hoops -- Rookie Card
The Reason Graded: I'm basically casually ripping at best when it comes to NBA these days -- just can't collect it all at today's prices (and might not want to with that) -- but the holiday-flavored version of Hoops got me to bite a few times since it's got a good volume of stuff in a box and a pair of Wemby RCs on the checklist. Is this a big card in the big scheme of things? Nah, but the printing and cutting here was so clean I knew I needed to grade it. Why?
The Grade: CGC 10

Reality Check: Because this should be the result more often than not as long as the centering is there ... and the stats here show that to be the case roughly half the time. The phenom seems to be getting better with time and once the wax dries up for even stuff like this there could be interesting trends that buck the idea that stuff is overproduced these days -- it is ... but not when there's increased demand for a popular player. I need to scout singles more for this guy and cards I like ... I think there's more potential here over time than people might think based on soft prices for raw cards. (Even if boatloads of his cards are already graded.)

Keep reading for more of this month's pick-ups and new slabs for Buzz.

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What: 2024 Topps Chrome Marvel trading cards
Arrives: Today via Topps UK
Box basics: Four serial-numbered cards per 12-pack box
Checklist & odds/parallels breakdown: Click here
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: The Marvel licensing shift to Topps arrives in part via a Topps UK release that brings that universe to Chrome with a colorful star-packed release that includes autographs from a few creators as well as "autographs" from top stars on those pages.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

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Like many collectors, Buzz is a fan of grading and knows that there are many reasons that collectors choose to slab cards. Sometimes it's to enhance the appeal and protect them when selling. Other times it's to protect an investment for the long-term or to protect for sentimental reasons. Or, it might be just for fun or curiosity about a potential grade.

Here's this month's grading diary here on The Buzz ...

A STRATUSFYING TEST?
The Tape: Trish Stratus 100% Stratusfaction Guaranteed (WWE, 2003)
The Reason Graded: There's a lot of talk about "alternative assets" in recent years and to a part of that audience trading cards are included. For those of us who work, live and breathe in the cardboard realm and have for a long time, it's perhaps more common sense and cards aren't necessarily an "alternative" or even an "asset." (It's a hobby for me.) But, grading of other items -- everyday stuff like magazines, video games, movies and toys -- that were used and in some ways shouldn't exist in their original form now might feel more that way. (They do to me.) I write about what I like, but this is a scenario where I dipped into a different realm of grading -- basically just to go through the process and see if I like it and then say that I did it once -- and I chose something that ties back into my collection as a whole. (That's wrestling.) Sealed VHS, video games and the like clearly have their audiences and demand is there for some things. There are some interesting sale prices out there for VHS -- everything from blockbusters from the late-1970s and early 1980s up to the oddball/culty stuff of the early 2000s before DVDs won the battle and stuff that you'd think wasn't even on VHS. Why is it a thing? Well, most stuff got used ... not saved, sealed and left untouched. (Sounds like baseball cards way back in the day, right?) With some steep discounts around the holidays here for grading fees, I grabbed this tape unopened and submitted it. VHS grading isn't cheap so doing them in serious bulk like cards ain't happening, which limits the volume available (for now) and the markets some, but this tape is one I felt comfortable with as a test. Why?The front cover is well-designed with a WWE icon and Hall of Famer front and center and having that visual appeal to start is one of the keys to demand if the grade doesn't work out.
The Grade: Beckett VHS 8.0 (Seal: A)

Reality Check: There's no posted pop report -- so this is a guess* -- and there's also not a posted grading scale yet, either, but I'll say this result bummed me out a bit. There were no substantial damage here other than a couple very minor things on one back edge of the box (where the ink was dark) so I had visions of a higher grade. But, it is what it is. My sub-grades came back 8.0 on corners, 7.5 on edges, 8.5 on flaps and 8.5 on gloss ... so the obvious flaw I knew about hurt the most. But, if we're talking about a 10-point scale, well, this piece, to me, doesn't feel closer to average or lesser. (I've seen some mangled VHS and DVD covers that were thrown around bargain bins where corners demolished surfaces ... those are lesser.) But, like I said, there's no posted scale to know what kinds of defects affect things here or there and no real cautions of what to look for. So, I did this as a test ... no regrets. Will I do it again? Probably not at present costs (I was in and out in a month, though) or without a scale to educate myself ... but, if I were to find a sealed clean and impressive copy of a couple of favorites from the past then maybe. Also, I'd be more inclined to do a different but related direction -- I think sealed DVDs and Blu-ray could actually be more popular as slabbed entities as it's way easier to find them sealed and they can have the same kind of appeal with modern packaging/designs. Plus they are smaller and lighter, too, making them easier to store and display. All in all, I like this piece and came up a bit short of what I thought it would grade at ... but it was still moderately Stratusfying.

Keep reading for more of this month's pick-ups and new slabs for Buzz.

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From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and post the results here. Like this and want to see more? Or maybe there's a box you'd want to see busted? Send Buzz an email at BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.

The pack: Giant-size Box of Mystery comics repack box
Where to buy: Check the story for the chain ... hit BlowoutCards.com for non-sports cards

Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery for what was in this one.

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From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and post the results here. Like this and want to see more? Or maybe there's a box you'd want to see busted? Send Buzz an email at BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.

The pack: Giant-size Box of Mystery comics repack box
Where to buy: Check the story for the chain ... hit BlowoutCards.com for non-sports cards

Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery for what was in this one.

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From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and post the results here. Like this and want to see more? Or maybe there's a box you'd want to see busted? Send Buzz an email at BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.

The pack: Marvel Comics seven-book $10 retail repack 
Where to buy: Walmart and other retail outlets often have these ... BlowoutCards.com for Marvel cards
First Buzz preview: N/A

Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery for what was in this one.

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From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and post the results here. Like this and want to see more? Or maybe there's a box you'd want to see busted? Send Buzz an email at BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.

The box: Mystery Power Box non-sport/gaming repack (MJ Holding)
Where to buy: Retail outlets ($9.99) -- click here for non-sports

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Buzz buys and busts a lot of boxes right here for Buzz Breaks, but one of my goals is to rip a little less and talk more about cardboard that I -- and you -- might like. One way to do that? Simple show and tell -- present a few pick-ups and say why they captured my attention.

So, with all that said, here are a few Buzz Buys ... and this time around there's a little bit of everything.

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REEL BIG FISH
The Card: Mike Trout 2020 Topps Project 2020 -- Artist: Ben Baller (/34,950 made)
The Price: Factory cost from Topps (bought bundle of five)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: It's probably no secret that Project 2020 is the runaway winner already for Set of The Year with most cards selling thousands of copies a pop at $20 apiece and a number of those re-selling for far, far more than $20. (This one, last I looked? Add on a zero.) Some of the prices are as volatile and logic-defying as it gets if you're looking at things from a cardboard-volume perspective -- rarer ones that weren't that popular at first are now very-pricey ones -- but that's just one part of the equation. The players have fan bases, the artists have fan bases -- and prices for their art may not be as soft as collectors might think them to be. In other words, a style you might not like could have thousands of people wanting them because they know their work elsewhere. (Ben Baller, for example, has more than 260,ooo Twitter followers and 1.4 million on Instagram. Both dwarf most hobby industry accounts and definitely tops them all.) The set has garnered a lot of mainstream media attention, too, meaning non-collectors are buying cards up, too. As I type this, the Trout here is still the No. 1 best-seller but others have come close. This one was the first break-out card volume-wise and is my favorite of the bunch so far this year. Even if others sell more, it will likely remain my favorite unless something to come really wows me.
Grab a box right here: No boxes of this one ... but MLB boxes are here

Keep reading for more interesting items ...

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Avengers: Endgame may have changed the Marvel Cinematic Universe forever, but it's also changed a few characters in other places.

Like on their Funko Pop! toys.

Funko revealed its plans for seven new toys in its Pop! Marvel portion of the line on Thursday and we get several new looks on seven new toys coming soon.

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Buzz buys and busts a lot of boxes right here for Buzz Breaks, but one of my goals just might be to rip fewer blasters this year and talk more about cardboard that I -- and you -- might like. One way to do that? Simple show and tell -- present a few pick-ups and say why they captured my attention. Would they capture yours? I'd be interested to know -- sometimes they might, sometimes they won't and that's fine. It's a buyer's market out there with plenty of options and bargains as well as high-end gems to chase.

So, with all that said, here are a few Buzz Buys ... and this time around there are a dozen weird, cheap or interesting cards.

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BEFORE THE NBA CAREER ... 
The Card: LeBron James 2003 Sports Illustrated For Kids #264 (BGS 9)
The Price: $11
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: There was a time when this was a popular card in the hobby -- maybe not Tiger Woods SI For Kids big, but popular. What is it? It's a card pulled from a perforated sheet in an issue of the kids' magazine, something it has done since the 1980s, showcasing countless big-name athletes and many others who don't have much -- or any -- cardboard. Everybody knows how much hype there was for James back then -- and his first cardboard from SAGE was huge -- but this one was one of only a few options until his NBA cardboard arrival on Rookie Cards (and plenty more) on 2003-04 releases. Ultimately all those early cards don't command as much interest as NBA stuff, but I liked the look and price on this one for a slab -- especially when you consider higher-graded cards can push $50-100 and 10s can be quite big at auction even today ... at least for a card found in a magazine.
Grab a box right here: No boxes for this one ... click here for NBA boxes

Keep reading for five more interesting items ...

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Buzz buys and busts a lot of boxes right here for Buzz Breaks, but one of my goals just might be to rip fewer blasters this year and talk more about cardboard that I -- and you -- might like. One way to do that? Simple show and tell -- present a few pick-ups and say why they captured my attention. Would they capture yours? I'd be interested to know -- sometimes they might, sometimes they won't and that's fine. It's a buyer's market out there with plenty of options and bargains as well as high-end gems to chase.

So, with all that said, here are a few Buzz Buys ... and this time around it's a super-sized edition.

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A CLASSIC YOU CAN FIND ... FOR NOW 
The Card: Ronald Acuña Jr. 2018 Topps Heritage High Number RC (PSA 9)
The Price: $11.20
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This Atlanta Braves slugger had a strong start in April -- enough to get people looking at his Rookie Cards from last season once again and that's why I have him leading off here once again but with a different card. I didn't pick this one up since that hot start, but the PSA 10s and other high-grade cards out there have asking prices that are definitely getting more attention and pricier than when I nabbed this one. Raw copies are going for not a lot less than what I paid on the same site and ripping a box isn't going to guarantee you a well-centered copy. (All of mine pulled  last year were a tad off.) This one is off top-to-bottom but that worries me far less than left-right centering, so I grabbed it at the price.
Grab a box right here: 2018 Topps Heritage High Number

Keep reading for nine more interesting items ...

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Do you like Buzz Breaks? Today's your day then as we launch 8 in 8 -- a series of a eight breaks of wax boxes and wax packs in as many hours today. We'll post one every hour ... this is Hour 2.

The case: 2016 Captain America: Civil War (216-pack super case)
The cost: Click here

What's inside this one? Keep reading ...

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What: 2019 Historic Autographs Comic Book Autograph Avalanche
Arrives: March 20
Box basics: At least six autographed comic books and at least eight unsigned books per box (eight boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Fans of autographs in the comic book world have a new way to chase the big names with this release that includes comics from the Silver Age to today.

Keep reading for more information.

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Have you seen the latest cool or interesting items on eBay? If not, you just might see some of those here every week as we're launching a weekly version of our eBay Buzz pieces that pop up from time to time. We’ll spotlight some items that have a story or just wow us with how much interest it might have — and we’re not just talking baseball cards, either.

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GOING SOLO?
The Item: 2018 Topps Star Wars Archives Signature Series Harrison Ford 1/1 1977 autograph
The Price: Out of this galaxy (or best offer)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This card came from a new box of Signature Series, which is a simple one-autograph-per-card buyback release. There are a lot of cards in this one that aren't as big as the elusive ink of Han Solo but the fact that he's in there (likely on other 1/1s) makes this box one to consider. There's no doubt it won't go for that much, but it should be interesting to see how much it does command when it does sell -- because Ford's autographs are in high demand when it comes to Star Wars cards.
Similar Pieces: Other Signature Series cards on eBay
The BlowoutCards.com Hunt: Click here for 2018 Topps Star Wars Archives Signature Series boxes or cases

Keep reading for four more interesting items in this week's roundup ...

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From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and post the results here. Like this and want to see more? Or maybe there's a box you'd want to see busted? Send Buzz an email at BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.

The box: Fairfield Superhero Collector Box
Where to buy: Target ($9.99)
Packs per box: 12

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We're about two months away from the arrival of Avengers: Infinity War on the big screen and the iconic stars and new villains that will enthrall movie-goers will also be hitting the toy aisle.

We know that because Funko has unleashed its plans for a massive array of new toys for the film across a few lines. It's so much stuff we're not even showing everything here -- just the planned Funko Pop!, Mystery Minis and Dorbz toys.

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Do you like Buzz Breaks? Today's your day then as we launch 12 in 12 -- a series of a dozen breaks of past wax boxes and wax packs in a dozen hours. We'll post one every hour on the hour all day long today ... this is Hour 9.

The boxes: Funko Captain America Civil War Mystery Minis bobble-heads 
The cost: Less than $1 per box (keep reading for the details) 

What's inside this one? Keep reading ...

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This year's San Diego Comic-Con is about a month away and Funko has already started to tease its exclusive toys that will be for sale at the show of all shows for pop culture and entertainment.

The Everett, Wash.-based company is releasing its previews in waves with iconic characters from Star Wars, Scott Pilgrim, Marvel, cartoons, DC Comics and TV shows already among those teased.

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The Mjölnir has a new home.

The New York Mets announced this morning that they have joined forces with Marvel to create a bobblehead of Thor -- no, not The Avengers' Norse God -- aka Noah Syndergaard, who is one of the Mets' biggest comic book-nicknamed stars.

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A high-grade copy of an iconic comic book has commanded an impressive sum on the auction block.

It's one of only 11 copies of Amazing Fantasy No. 15, which is the first appearance of Spider-Man, and it sold for six figures via Dallas-based Heritage Auctions on Thursday night.

How much?

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It's one part gimmick and one part patriotic but the arrival of a new comic book series and team from Marvel on Wednesday should be big -- and a big challenge for those who decide to collect them all.

It's U.S.Avengers and the first issue arrives with a variant cover for every state as well as a few more covers that all spotlight an individual star from the Marvel Universe.

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Sometimes you just get sidetracked by an email.

That was the case Friday morning when the latest images from Sideshow Toys spotlighting its newest (and some past) Premium Format figures arrived in Buzz's inbox.

They're premium in size -- in the case of Deadpool here 24 inches tall and 14 pounds -- and premium in price. But, most importantly, they're premium in appeal as they are ridiculously detailed in their varying forms.

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What: 2017 Upper Deck Marvel Annual trading cards
Arrives: February (and also on e-Pack).
Box basics: One patch, sketch, plexi-sketch or premium insert per 20-pack box (12 boxes per case)

What's buzz-worthy: The year in Marvel Comics gets a review in Annual the first planned look back at the year in books that Upper Deck has penciled into its comicard lineup.

Keep reading for more as well as a gallery.

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San Diego Comic-Con is almost here and the crew at Funko has prepared more than 70 different toys, T-shirts and more that will only initially be available at the show this week.

There will be pieces from Star Wars, Marvel Comics, DC Comics, Disney, The Walking Dead and so much more in the company's Pop! line, Dorbz and, well, so much more.

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